Commercial banks unpreparedness for facilitating business with Iran detrimental
The Union of Small and Medium Enterprises
(UNISAME) invited the attention of the Director State Bank of Pakistan (SBP)
Policy and Regulations Department to the unpreparedness of commercial banks for
facilitating transactions with Iran although the SBP circular dated February
25th 2016 very clearly and specifically permits transactions with Iran.
President UNISAME Zulfikar Thaver said exports have declined and especially of Basmati rice due to no facilities for transactions with Iran.It is very important that rice exporters are enabled to ship Pakistani Super Basmati rice to Iran . Iranians love Pakistani Super Basmati rice and are very big buyers. The Indian basmati rice is no match for Pakistani rice.Despite the permission of SBP and that there is no bar on transactions with Iran yet the banks are not inclined to accept documents related to Iran and therefore business with Iran is at standstill he said. The SME rice processors and exporters are the most affected as value addition to basmati grains is mostly done by the sector.
President UNISAME Zulfikar Thaver said exports have declined and especially of Basmati rice due to no facilities for transactions with Iran.It is very important that rice exporters are enabled to ship Pakistani Super Basmati rice to Iran . Iranians love Pakistani Super Basmati rice and are very big buyers. The Indian basmati rice is no match for Pakistani rice.Despite the permission of SBP and that there is no bar on transactions with Iran yet the banks are not inclined to accept documents related to Iran and therefore business with Iran is at standstill he said. The SME rice processors and exporters are the most affected as value addition to basmati grains is mostly done by the sector.
Thaver further added that It is now crucial
that SBP in pursuance of this circular must give guidelines as to how best the
banks can facilitate transactions with Iran.The need is that the commercial
banks of Pakistan will have to appoint their correspondents in Iran and
secondly the ledger account has to be specified for the exchange of currency
from both the buying and selling country.In other words the modalities and
mechanism has to be worked out with the central bank of both the countries to
avoid any defects or impediments later on. The commercial banks are afraid as
heavy penalties were imposed in the past but now since there is no bar the
transactions can be carried out smoothly with the Central banks of both the
countries determining the
modus operandi.
modus operandi.
Even before there was never a sanction on
foodstuffs and medicines and surgical goods but since SWIFT the international
currency exchange was declining transactions with Iran the transactions had no
route to follow and were therefore resorting to intermediary routes which made
it costly.
Now if business is facilitated both the
countries can deal directly with one another without intermediaries but the
Central banks have to play their role.
He said it is pertinent to note that now is the best time to act as the Iranian astrological new year called Nawroze is in March 2017 and moreover we now have the GI protection law in the process and our competitor India does not have the matching super basmati grains which we have and we have the edge by virtue of the aroma our rice has and yet if we do not act fast it will be very unfortunate.Commercial banks unpreparedness for facilitating business with Iran detrimental.
The Unisame
President emphasizes research, development for higher rice production
Thursday, 25 August 2016 19:19
ISLAMABAD: President Mamnoon Hussain on Thursday
emphasized the importance of research and development for introducing higher
yielding and better quality rice seeds in order to increase rice production and
exports.He was talking to a delegation of Rice Exporters Association of
Pakistan (REAP), headed by its Chairman Muhammad Shafique which called on him
here at the Aiwan-e-Sadr.The President underlined that REAP should itself take
the initiative to promote research and development in the rice sector which
would benefit not only the rice exporters but also rice farmers.
He noted that trade associations had an
important role to play in unlocking the export potential of Pakistan by
fostering business environment and representing interests of the business
community.He said that the government was committed to providing an enabling
business environment through a consistent policy direction for trade and
industry.The President appreciated the resilience of rice exporters in dealing
with cyclical business slumps as rice industry had been under pressure due to
drop in international price of rice.He noted that the rice sector was the
second largest earner of foreign exchange adding that the government was
determined to tap the full export potential of tha sector and had taken steps
to encourage value-addition.
President Mamnoon assured REAP of his full
support in revitalizing this sector and removing hindrances in increase of rice
exports.He said that Rice Research Institute, Kala Shah Kaku and Agriculture
University, Faisalabad should also strive to introduce higher yielding seeds in
cotton and rice for strengthening the country's economy.The REAP delegation
apprised the President about their proposals for increasing rice exports and
also briefed him on their problems relating to formulation of Geographical
Indication Law for getting patent right on its Basmati rice, development of new
rice seeds, relief in export refinance payment, utilization of Export
Development Fund and grant of industry status to the rice units.The delegation
praised the government's policies and initiatives to promote exports of the
country.
President for promoting research, development in rice sector
August 26, 2016
ISLAMABAD
- President Mamnoon Hussain has emphasised the importance of research and
development for introducing high-yielding and better quality rice seeds in
order to increase rice production and exports.The President expressed these
views while talking to a delegation of Rice Exporters Association of Pakistan
(REAP), headed by its chairman Muhammad Shafique, at the Aiwan-e-Sadr here on
Thursday.The President underlined that REAP should itself take the initiative
to promote research and development in the rice sector which will benefit not
only the rice exporters but also rice farmers. He noted that trade
associations have an important role to play in unlocking the export potential
of Pakistan by fostering business environment and representing interests of the
business community.
The President said that the government is committed to provide an enabling business environment through a consistent policy direction for trade and industry. He appreciated the resilience of rice exporters in dealing with cyclical business slumps as rice industry has been under pressure due to drop in international price of rice.The President noted that rice sector is the second largest earner of foreign exchange adding that the government is determined to tap the full export potential of this sector and has taken steps to encourage value-addition.
The President assured REAP of his full support in revitalizing this sector and removing hindrances in increase of rice exports.
The
President said that Rice Research Institute, Kala Shah Kaku and Agriculture
University, Faisalabad should also strive to introduce higher yielding seeds in
cotton and rice for strengthening the country’s economy.
The delegation of REAP apprised the President about their proposals for increasing rice exports and also briefed him on their problems relating to formulation of Geographical Indication Law for getting patent right on its Basmati rice, development of new rice seeds, relief in export refinance payment, utilisation of Export Development Fund and grant of industry status to the rice units.The delegation praised government’s policies and initiatives to promote exports of the countr
The delegation of REAP apprised the President about their proposals for increasing rice exports and also briefed him on their problems relating to formulation of Geographical Indication Law for getting patent right on its Basmati rice, development of new rice seeds, relief in export refinance payment, utilisation of Export Development Fund and grant of industry status to the rice units.The delegation praised government’s policies and initiatives to promote exports of the countr
http://nation.com.pk/business/26-Aug-2016/president-for-promoting-research-development-in-rice-sector
Anyone can grow Basmati rice? No, which is why this MP proposal has opened a political and economic battle
Krishnakumar Tomar, a science graduate was one of the first to grow Basmati in Badi, which falls in Raisen district. When he harvested his crop 14 years back, he had no idea where to sell it.
By: FE Online | Updated: August 25, 2016 12:18 PM
The states that have been issued the GI tag –
mainly millers and farmers in Punjab and Haryana – are vociferously opposed to
extending the same to MP.Krishnakumar Tomar, a science graduate was one of the
first to grow Basmati in Badi, which falls in Raisen district. When he
harvested his crop 14 years back, he had no idea where to sell it. With no
local takers, he was told he could get a good price for it at Delhi’s Narela
mandi or Kota in Rajastha. “I wondered whether it was worth the trouble going
all the way there”, recalls Tomar. The long road journey to Narela may only
have further sowed seeds of doubt over his decision to switch from growing
regular high-yielding paddy, he told The Indian Express. But today, “basmati is
my main crop”, who grows Pusa Basmati-1 (PB-1) on his entire 35-acres farmland.
×
Tomar is among the many farmers in this area –
having assured irrigation, thanks to the Barna Dam completed in the late 1970s
– who have stopped planting regular paddy or soyabean in the kharif season.
They have prospered by switching to a crop that is now a bone of contention
between Madhya Pradesh (MP) and the northern states led by Punjab and Haryana.
At the heart of the dispute is MP staking claim for inclusion of 13 of its
districts – from Morena, Bhind, Sheopur, Gwalior, Datia, Shivpuri and Guna in
the north to Vidisha, Raisen, Sehore, Hoshangabad, Narsinghpur and Jabalpur in
the central-south – in the Geographical Indication (GI) area officially
demarcated for basmati cultivation.
As of now, only seven states in the
Indo-Gangetic plains on the foothills of the Himalayas – Punjab, Haryana,
Himachal Pradesh, Delhi, Uttarakhand, West Uttar Pradesh and two districts of
Jammu & Kashmir – have been granted GI certification rights for growing
basmati. The states that have been issued the GI tag – mainly millers and
farmers in Punjab and Haryana – are vociferously opposed to extending the same
to MP. Their contention is that the state neither has a history nor the
specific agro-climatic conditions suitable for basmati cultivation. But for
farmers here, basmati is what has brought them prosperity that was non-existent
till a decade ago. Tomar may have, then, struggled to dispose of his crop. But
that changed with the entry of millers, who sensed an opportunity to procure basmati
from MP at rates lower than what it cost in the traditional northern belt.
“There is no dearth of buyers for basmati,
unlike wheat, where we are entirely dependent on the government. Nor do we have
to go to any procurement centre to sell, as the company agents come to us
directly to purchase from our doorstep. And the basmati crop does not fail from
less or more rains, which is not so with soyabean”, notes Sunil Sharma. The
Class XI-pass Sharma owns a Mahindra Bolero SUV, while his friend and fellow-farmer
Mukesh Chouhan drives a Scorpio. “Many people in these parts have purchased
four-wheelers and even property 100 km away in Bhopal. It is all only due to
basmati”, he points out.
According to Rajesh Rajora, Principal Secretary
(Agriculture) in the MP government, the state has submitted evidence, including
documents and publications dating back to the British era, to prove that
basmati was being cultivated in the relevant districts long enough to warrant a
GI tag. That evidence was, however, not accepted by the Intellectual Property
Appellate Board, which, in an order on February 5, directed the MP government
to file additional evidence. The latter has since challenged the order and the
matter is currently before the Madras High Court. All this wrangling comes even
as basmati exports from India have shown a decline in the last couple of years,
after posting a more than ten-fold jump to over Rs 29,000 crore between 2006-07
and 2013-14
The Financial Express
Riso Gallo Launches Italy’s First Basmati Rice
Riso Gallo has launched Italy’s first “Basmati”
aromatic rice, produced in the Po Valley.
The idea was to create a new variety that can
satisfy the tastes of the consumer, while at the same time meeting the exotic
requirements dictated by the market.In appearance, Riso Gallo Aroma is similar
to the classic rice from East Asia, with the addition of Mediterranean
flavouring.
Although it has a floral aroma reminiscent of
Basmati rice varieties typical of India and Pakistan, it is produced entirely
in Italy.The rice is produced adhering to all European safety and control
standards, as well as reducing its carbon footprint by not transporting large
amounts of rice from countries so far away.Riso Gallo Aroma is the result of a
collaboration between Italy’s leading rice producer and institutions linked to
the rice market such as SIS (Italian Seed Company) and FIR (Italian Rice
Chain), together with Italian farmers’ association Coldiretti.According to
Istat data provided by Coldiretti, Italy is a European leader in rice
production, with 227,329 hectares sown which account for 55% of the EU total.
The value of the Italian rice consumption exceeds €1 billion.However, last year
Italian rice imports set a new record, of 219.4 million kilograms. The trend
continued in the first quarter of 2016, with imports growing by 74% compared to
the same period last year.
GI certification: Madhya Pradesh demand to grow basmati opens a Pandora’s Box, both economically and politically
As of now, only seven states in the Indo-Gangetic plains on the foothills of the Himalayas have been granted GI certification rights for growing basmati.
Written by Milind Ghatwai
| Raisen (madhya Pradesh) | Updated: August 25, 2016 6:06 am
Basmati farmer Krishnakumar Tomar at his field
in Badi, Raisen district. (Express Photo: Milind Ghatwai)
When
Krishnakumar Tomar, one of the first to grow basmati in this fertile belt,
harvested his crop 14 years back, he had no idea where to sell it. With no
local takers for the aromatic paddy, the 40-year-old from Badi, which falls in
Raisen district, was told he could get a good price for it at Delhi’s Narela
mandi or Kota in Rajasthan, both many hundred kilometers away.“I wondered
whether it was worth the trouble going all the way there”, recalls Tomar. The
long road journey to Narela may only have further sowed seeds of doubt over his
decision to switch from growing regular high-yielding paddy.But today, “basmati is my main crop”, declares this science graduate, who grows Pusa Basmati-1 (PB-1), a variety bred by the Indian Agricultural Research Institute in New Delhi, on his entire 35-acres farmland. He devotes more resources and attention to it than even wheat, which is cultivated during the rabi winter season and sold to government agencies at the official minimum support price (MSP).
Tomar used to previously cultivate paddy varieties such as ‘Mahamaya’ and ‘Kranti’, which gave yields of up to 30 quintals per acre. PB-1 yields are lower at 18-22 per acre. The difference, however, is in prices.
“Ten years ago, ordinary paddy sold at Rs 600 per quintal. Even today, the government’s MSP is only Rs 1,470. In basmati, prices rose as high as Rs 3,900 per quintal in 2013. They have fallen since to Rs 2,000, but are still more than that of non-basmati”, he points out.
Tomar is among the many farmers in this area – having assured irrigation, thanks to the Barna Dam completed in the late 1970s – who have stopped planting regular paddy or soyabean in the kharif season. They have prospered by switching to a crop that is now a bone of contention between Madhya Pradesh (MP) and the northern states led by Punjab and Haryana.
All the three are, incidentally, ruled by the BJP either by itself or in alliance.
At the heart of the dispute is MP staking claim for inclusion of 13 of its districts – from Morena, Bhind, Sheopur, Gwalior, Datia, Shivpuri and Guna in the north to Vidisha, Raisen, Sehore, Hoshangabad, Narsinghpur and Jabalpur in the central-south – in the Geographical Indication (GI) area officially demarcated for basmati cultivation.
As of now, only seven states in the Indo-Gangetic plains on the foothills of the Himalayas – Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Delhi, Uttarakhand, West Uttar Pradesh and two districts of Jammu & Kashmir – have been granted GI certification rights for growing basmati.
The states that have been issued the GI tag – mainly millers and farmers in Punjab and Haryana – are vociferously opposed to extending the same to MP. Their contention is that the state neither has a history nor the specific agro-climatic conditions suitable for basmati cultivation.
But for farmers here, basmati is what has brought them prosperity that was non-existent till a decade ago. Tomar may have, then, struggled to dispose of his crop. But that changed with the entry of millers, who sensed an opportunity to procure basmati from MP at rates lower than what it cost in the traditional northern belt.
LT Foods Limited was the first mover. The company, which sells basmati rice under the well-known Daawat brand, went on to establish a state-of-the-art plant in 2006 at Mandideep, about 20 km from Bhopal. In no time, many others also moved in. They included S.S.A International and Narmada Cereals Pvt. Ltd, which have also set up milling facilities at Mandideep, technically in Raisen district.
“There is no dearth of buyers for basmati, unlike wheat, where we are entirely dependent on the government. Nor do we have to go to any procurement centre to sell, as the company agents come to us directly to purchase from our doorstep. And the basmati crop does not fail from less or more rains, which is not so with soyabean”, notes Sunil Sharma.
This 40-acre farmer, also from Badi, took to basmati after seeing Punjabi Jat Sikh farmers settled in the region growing it.
The Class XI-pass Sharma owns a Mahindra Bolero SUV, while his friend and fellow-farmer Mukesh Chouhan drives a Scorpio.
“Many people in these parts have purchased four-wheelers and even property 100 km away in Bhopal. It is all only due to basmati. Yes, prices had shot up to Rs 4,000/quintal three years ago and are now half of that. But things are still better than 10 years ago, when we did not even have our own tractors”, he points out.
These farmers are equally clear that they cannot be denied the right to cultivate basmati, in the name of GI protection. “We did not oppose their getting the GI, why should they oppose ours, then? Punjab is, no doubt, the leader in agriculture, but we are trying to catch up. What’s wrong in that?” retorts Sharma.
The primary argument of the northern millers and farmers – supported by the scientific community and bodies like APEDA (Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority) – is that MP never had any tradition of basmati cultivation, a prerequisite for grant of GI. “They started growing basmati only from the start of this century. All this pressure to include MP is for just helping one company”, said a Delhi-based miller, while alluding to LT Foods.
The company, however, denies the charge of the MP government fighting a proxy war on its behalf. “We buy less than 15 per cent of the state’s total basmati paddy production. The rest is bought by many others, including millers and traders in North India”, says Rajinder Wadhawan, Director (Operations) at LT Foods.
MP’s farmers are the ones who would be affected the most, in the event of the state government losing the GI battle, he adds.
According to Rajesh Rajora, Principal Secretary (Agriculture) in the MP government, the state has submitted evidence, including documents and publications dating back to the British era, to prove that basmati was being cultivated in the relevant districts long enough to warrant a GI tag.
That evidence was, however, not accepted by the Intellectual Property Appellate Board, which, in an order on February 5, directed the MP government to file additional evidence. The latter has since challenged the order and the matter is currently before the Madras High Court.
All this wrangling comes even as basmati exports from India have shown a decline in the last couple of years, after posting a more than ten-fold jump to over Rs 29,000 crore between 2006-07 and 2013-14
The Indian Express
Riso Gallo Launches Italy’s First Basmati Rice
Riso Gallo has launched Italy’s first “Basmati”
aromatic rice, produced in the Po Valley.The idea was to create a new variety
that can satisfy the tastes of the consumer, while at the same time meeting the
exotic requirements dictated by the market.In appearance, Riso Gallo Aroma is
similar to the classic rice from East Asia, with the addition of Mediterranean
flavouring.Although it has a floral aroma reminiscent of Basmati rice varieties
typical of India and Pakistan, it is produced entirely in Italy.
The rice is produced adhering to all European
safety and control standards, as well as reducing its carbon footprint by not
transporting large amounts of rice from countries so far away.Riso Gallo Aroma
is the result of a collaboration between Italy’s leading rice producer and
institutions linked to the rice market such as SIS (Italian Seed Company) and
FIR (Italian Rice Chain), together with Italian farmers’ association
Coldiretti.According to Istat data provided by Coldiretti, Italy is a European
leader in rice production, with 227,329 hectares sown which account for 55% of
the EU total. The value of the Italian rice consumption exceeds €1 billion.
However, last year Italian rice imports set a
new record, of 219.4 million kilograms. The trend continued in the first
quarter of 2016, with imports growing by 74% compared to the same period last
year.
http://www.esmmagazine.com/riso-gallo-launches-italys-first-basmati-rice/31498http://www.esmmagazine.com/riso-gallo-launches-italys-first-basmati-rice/31498
Surplus kharif paddy sale duration extended
Published: 25th August 2016 06:15 AM
Last Updated: 25th
August 2016 06:15 AM
BHUBANESWAR: The State Government has extended
the duration of submission of applications for online registration and renewal
of registration for sale of surplus paddy during the kharif marketing season
(KMS) 2016-17. Official sources said farmers who wish to sell their
surplus kharif paddy can now register their names till August 31. All district
Collectors have been asked to intimate the Primary Agriculture Cooperative
Societies (PACS) and Large Area Multi Purpose Cooperative Societies (LAMPCS)
regarding the extension. “The societies will give wide publicity in their respective areas so that farmers intending to sell surplus paddy can apply for online registration and renewal of registration within the fresh deadline,” said an official.
Earlier, large-scale resentment surfaced among farmers from different parts of the State as PACS and LAMPCS refused to procure paddy beyond the kharif target following instructions from the administration. Many farmers were deprived of selling paddy as the societies did not accept the food grains citing that they have achieved the target set by Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare Department (FSCWD).
Sources said around 41.69 lakh tonnes of paddy was procured during the KMS which is around 4 per cent higher than the previous season. Later, the Government had fixed a target of procuring 10.29 lakh tonnes of paddy during the current rabi marketing season which started from May 1. Apart from the Paddy Procurement Automation System (P-PAS) which was introduced during KMS to ensure transparency and accuracy during paddy procurement, the FSCWD recently made the seeding of Aadhaar number to bank accounts of farmers mandatory
Acadiana farmers assess damages following flooding
http://www.katc.com/clip/12685926/acadiana-farmers-assess-damages-following-flooding
Louisiana agriculture facing $110 million in flood-related losses
Myriad problems mean damage estimate likely to
rise
Aug 25, 2016 | Delta
Farm Press
- Louisiana facing losses of $110 million-plus.
- Frequent rainfalls mean farmers could face delayed harvest.
Flooding and frequent rainfall since has left Louisiana’s agriculture sector with an estimated $110 million in losses. Unfortunately, that number is likely to rise as the floodwaters recede.
“The $110 million estimate is based on very early reports,” says Kurt Guidry, LSU AgCenter agriculture economist. “As of yesterday (August 21), there were still some flooded areas in southwest Louisiana and, to some degree, south of Baton Rouge. So, a full assessment hasn’t been possible throughout all impacted areas.
The two hardest hit commodities in the state are rice and soybeans.
About 20 percent of rice acres were unharvested at the time of the flooding. “Some of the southwestern, coastal, heavy rice-growing parishes had significant flooding. I’m from that region and was there this weekend helping family members. There were a couple of farmers who had rice still underwater. One farmer had about 400 acres he couldn’t see – too much water. So, I’m afraid once the floodwaters go down we’ll see serious yield losses.”
Another issue for all commodities “is after the heavy rains that swept through a week ago, there has been pretty heavy rainfall every day. If the pattern continues, delayed harvest will be a problem.”
Rice, soybeans
In the case of rice, wet conditions will affect the ratoon crop. “Many growers in southwest Louisiana rely on the second crop to be their ‘money’ crop. They make the majority of their profits on ratoon rice. Having to harvest in extremely wet conditions will really hamper the second crop.”
Guidry says many farmers have planted soybeans
on fallow sugarcane ground. “When the flood came most of those soybeans were
ready for harvest. They’d been sprayed and defoliated. For those that didn’t go
underwater or where the waters receded quickly, it’s now a race against time to
get into the fields and bring the beans in. Otherwise, we’ll see quantity, and
probably more importantly, quality losses.
“As you move into the middle portion of the
state, the soybeans are a bit younger. They haven’t been impacted as much. But,
again, we need some drier conditions to harvest. It’s becoming a real concern.
“We have more soybean acres than anything else
– 1.2 to 1.3 million acres with about 450,000 acres in the southern region. So,
the total impact these rains could have on the industry as a whole is very
large.”
Sugarcane
At this point, sugarcane shouldn’t see a huge
reduction in yield. “Cane is a resilient crop and, in talking with (LSU
AgCenter) experts, there shouldn’t be too many problems yet.
“The bigger issue with cane is with having to
replant. August and September is prime cane-planting time in Louisiana. We had
about 15 percent of expected acres planted at the time of the storms. Many of
those were flooded and still could be. There will be additional costs associated
with replanting some of those acres.
“Several sugar mills have talked about
beginning milling earlier this year. That would mean harvest starting about the
third week of September. Well, with all the cane left to plant, that early
harvest start will be very taxing on producers to have enough labor and
resources to accomplish both. We could have some acres that don’t get planted
simply because time runs out. Anytime cane doesn’t get planted that’s a large
disruption because the crop is in a four- to five-year production cycle.”
Livestock
Livestock is a sector “hard to get a handle on.
I feel pretty safe to say there will be livestock deaths – how large a number,
I don’t know. Some of the heaviest flooding is where a larger percentage of the
state’s livestock is located.”
Many Extension parish personnel “are dealing
with their own homes being flooded and lost and things of that nature. It’s
understandable how difficult it’s been getting solid livestock numbers in those
areas.
“I think this flood will rival the one we had
in March in north Louisiana. At that time, 500 to 600 head of cattle were lost.
It’s not unreasonable to assume around the same number was lost in this August
flood.”
A lot of fences are down and need repair --
another expense for cattlemen.
Another set of problems for the livestock
sector: lost forage, lost grazing and food availability. “I’ve spoken with
several cattlemen in the southern part of the state and they had several feet
of water on pastures. We’re getting to a point where there are only a couple of
months where the forage will be actively growing. Will the pastures underwater
be able to come back quickly?
“We may not have any forage availability on
those acres until next spring. If that’s the case, will producers have enough
grass or hay to get through the winter?”
The forecast for the Baton Rouge area where
Guidry is based “says there will be a 40 to 50 percent chance of rain the
entire week (of August 22). It seems as though some of the hardest-hit areas
keep getting precipitation. Last weekend, someone in the area said they got 1.5
inches of rain on Saturday (August 20). Someone who lives just south of Baton
Rouge got 3 inches. The ground is saturated and we really need a run of dry
days to allow growers back into the field.”
Guidry was in Acadia Parish over the weekend
and saw one rice field a grower was trying to harvest. “It didn’t look like it
was going too well. That was the only combine I saw working and I drove all
over the parish. Of course, harvesting in moist soil will increase costs later
when they have to fix rutted up areas.
Sprouting, consistent rains
“The consistent rains we’ve had since the
flooding has led to grain sorghum and corn sprouting in the field. That can
become a much bigger issue if harvest delays continue.
“Prior to the rains about a week ago, the
state’s corn was only about 30 percent harvested and the grain sorghum was at
55 percent. You can see how the wet weather is really having implications for
the whole state.”
About 15 to 20 percent of Louisiana’s cotton
has open bolls and reports of boll rot and cotton sprouting in the field are
“picking up.”
Guidry says the $110 million loss estimate is
only for production losses and the impact on gross revenue. “There will also be
impacts on quality issues, increased cost of production because of harvest
inefficiencies, some stored commodities that were lost. For example, in
southwest Louisiana about 80 percent of the rice was harvested and a lot of
that goes into storage.
“The LSU AgCenter will continue to monitor this
and do a more detailed assessment in the next several weeks. These numbers will
be updated as we get new information.
http://deltafarmpress.com/cotton/louisiana-agriculture-facing-110-million-flood-related-losses
EconomyFloods, pests eat away at China’s early rice harvest
China’s early rice crop shrank in terms of area sown, yield and total production this year as floods destroyed paddies in many parts of the country and some farmers opted to delay planting.Total area sown fell to 5.62m hectares this year, with yield dropping to 5.83 tons per hectare for total production of 32.77m tons of early rice in 2016, according to the National Bureau of Statistics.The statistics bureau said the decrease was caused by flood damage to paddies from storms that struck early in the growing season, as well as an apparent shortage of labour that resulted in farmers deciding to either forego sowing altogether or delay planting until later in the year for harvest in autumn, writes Hudson Lockett.
The bureau noted yield was also low, again blaming floods and low sunlight during growing season as well as outbreaks of disease and harmful insects. The result is the smallest early rice harvest since 2011, reflecting a year-on-year fall of 2.7 per cent in total output.
Already the cost of domestic rice appears to have risen, with agricultural commodities price tracker Yimutiao reporting the average market price up by around Rmb2.2 to almost Rmb11 per kilo, having jumped suddenly on 16 August.
With rice acting as a key component of China’s consumer inflation basket, the smaller early harvest is likely exert some upward pressure on the headline consumer price index, though that may be mitigated if pork prices continue to decline
http://www.ft.com/fastft/2016/08/25/floods-pests-eat-away-at-chinas-early-rice-harvest/
Piñol vows rice self-sufficiency to aid farmers vs climate change
By: Marc Jayson Cayabyab
@MJcayabyabINQ
INQUIRER.net
04:28 PM August 25th, 20
Department of Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel “Manny” Piñol on Thursday said the Duterte administration would push for rice self-sufficiency and protect farmers from the ill-effects of climate change.During the House of Representatives budget hearing on the proposed P50.6 billion budget of the DA and its attached agencies for 2017, Piñol said the country should not rely on importing rice from other countries such as Vietnam, Cambodia, and Thailand.
He said these countries also experience the effects of a changing climate and natural disasters.“We can’t depend on imported rice because even Vietnam, Thailand, Cambodia, and Laos have their own shares of calamities,” Piñol said.“It’s because of this that we should achieve food sufficiency, because we don’t know when the next El Niño would hit us or what countries would be affected by the El Niño,” he added.
Piñol said his department would focus on rice production anticipating the effects of a changing climate on agriculture in light of the El Niño phenomenon that heavily affected the farmers’ harvests.
“Why are we focusing on rice production? The El Niño has given us a lesson. Climate change has made everything unpredictable for agriculture,” he said.
The DA and its attached agencies have a proposed budget of P50.6 billion for 2017, down from the current budget of P53.97 billion. JE
Battambang rice-farming families fear floods
Thu, 25 August 2016
About
40,000 Battambang rice-farming families already suffering steep losses from a
severe drought are at risk of seeing their crops wiped out entirely by
devastating floods as late seasonal rains start to kick in.A drought that meteorologists have blamed on the tail-end of an El Niño weather cycle has already damaged rice crops planted on more than 49,000 hectares in the province, the heartland of Cambodia’s rice production.
And while rains have started to fall in parts of the province, the dry spell’s total damage could top even last year’s record-setting drought, which saw 60,000 hectares of the province’s rice-planted fields wither under the baking sun.
“The drought [damage] is going to be more serious than last year’s if the coming weeks do not bring sufficient rain,” Prom Voek, an official in Battambang’s provincial agricultural department, said yesterday.
About 1 million people live in Battambang, with most dependent on agriculture for their livelihoods, he said. Eight of the province’s 13 districts have been severely affected by the drought.
“On average, one family holds at least 1 hectare of rice fields, so we can estimate that about 40,000 farming families have been impacted by the drought,” Voek said. “All the biggest rice-producing areas have been hit by the drought, and farmers could lose about 2.8 tonnes of paddy rice per hectare.”
But some farmers fear Mother Nature is gearing up for a one-two punch. For while the onset of rain could help with the drought, runoff from the province’s parched soil could also trigger flash floods, leading to more devastating losses.
Va Saroeurn, president of Mongkol Agricultural Development Cooperative in the province’s hard-hit Sangke district, recalls the devastation caused by earlier severe floods.
“We had really bad flooding a few years ago in which all our rice fields were damaged,” he said.
Saroeurn said farmers in the cooperative, where nearly half of the 350 hectares collectively planted with rice this season have been damaged by drought, are praying for rain. But they are also apprehensive, recognising the higher risk of flooding.
Yet even with enough rainfall in the coming weeks, he estimates that half of the cooperative’s damaged rice crops will die before harvest, casting hundreds of impoverished farming families deeper into debt.
“We farmers are dependent on capital borrowed from microfinance institutions,” he said. “If our rice crops are damaged, we will face trouble paying off those debts.”
According to Hem Sophal, director of the statistics bureau at the Ministry of Agriculture, crops in five provinces have been affected by drought, including Battambang, Takeo, Svay Rieng, Banteay Meanchey and Kampong Speu.
However, he does not expect the overall damage to surpass that of last year’s drought, which damaged crops on nearly 200,000 hectares in 20 provinces.
“The impact of this year’s drought will not be as severe as the one we had last year,” he said.
Hun Lak, vice president of the Cambodian Rice Federation (CRF), played down the risk of flash floods.
“In general, in Cambodia we do not suffer much as a result of flooding, because floods are a short-term phenomenon,” he said. “Drought is a bigger issue for us.”
He said farmers depend on the sky for their livelihood, and when the rains fail, whether due to climate change or abnormal weather, farmers are pushed deeper into poverty. Lak said the government should work quickly to restore existing water-control networks and upgrade irrigation systems.
“The climate is always changing and this impacts the agricultural sector, not only Cambodia but in every country,” he said. “However, if we have a proper water system, it can help farmers climb out of poverty.”
Image:A young boy plants seedlings in a dry
rice paddy late last year. Victoria
Mørck Madsen
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/battambang-rice-farming-families-fear-floods
Philippines to import 250,000 tons of rice
August 26, 2016
MANILA -- The Philippines, one of the world’s top rice buyers, is seeking to import up to 250,000 tons of rice from Vietnam, Thailand and Cambodia in a tender scheduled on Aug. 31, according to a copy of a government document seen by Reuters.
A FARMER harvests rice at a ricefield in
Bulacan. The Philippines is set to import 250,000 tons of rice to boost its
stocks of the staple. -- PHILIPPINE STAR_KRIZJOHNROSALES
The volume is part of the government’s plan to
import up to 1 million tons of rice to secure supply through next year while
prices are low in top exporters Vietnam and Thailand.
The imports would also boost the Southeast Asian nation’s buffer stock ahead of the typhoon season towards the end of the year.
Despite the upcoming tender, benchmark rice prices in Vietnam and Thailand remained near multi-month lows.
The National Food Authority is looking to buy 25% broken rice, with delivery of the first 100,000 tons expected not later than Sept. 30 and the remaining amount not later than Oct. 31, according to the document.
Of the planned 1 million tons of rice to be imported, 750,000 tons will be purchased via government-to-government deals, while the remaining amount will be shipped in by private companies, Economic Planning Secretary Ernesto M. Pernia said last week.
The Philippines expects its paddy rice output to reach 18.135 million tons in 2016, flat from last year, following crop losses in the first half due to the El Niño-induced drought.
During a congressional hearing tackling the Department of Agriculture’s 2017 budget, Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel F. Piñol on Thursday reiterated his target to make the country self sufficient in rice production by 2019.
“We don’t know when the next El Niño will hit us, we don’t know when the next La Niña will hit us. We cannot continue relying on imported rice,” Piñol told lawmakers.
The Philippines imported around 1.8 million tons of rice in 2015, below a record volume of 2.45 million tons in 2010. -- Reuters
The imports would also boost the Southeast Asian nation’s buffer stock ahead of the typhoon season towards the end of the year.
Despite the upcoming tender, benchmark rice prices in Vietnam and Thailand remained near multi-month lows.
The National Food Authority is looking to buy 25% broken rice, with delivery of the first 100,000 tons expected not later than Sept. 30 and the remaining amount not later than Oct. 31, according to the document.
Of the planned 1 million tons of rice to be imported, 750,000 tons will be purchased via government-to-government deals, while the remaining amount will be shipped in by private companies, Economic Planning Secretary Ernesto M. Pernia said last week.
The Philippines expects its paddy rice output to reach 18.135 million tons in 2016, flat from last year, following crop losses in the first half due to the El Niño-induced drought.
During a congressional hearing tackling the Department of Agriculture’s 2017 budget, Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel F. Piñol on Thursday reiterated his target to make the country self sufficient in rice production by 2019.
“We don’t know when the next El Niño will hit us, we don’t know when the next La Niña will hit us. We cannot continue relying on imported rice,” Piñol told lawmakers.
The Philippines imported around 1.8 million tons of rice in 2015, below a record volume of 2.45 million tons in 2010. -- Reuters
SunRice predicts local rice crop to boom next year
The Weekly Times
August 25, 2016 11:07am
“The company estimates that our growing and vibrant markets could support a (2017) crop of 900,000 tonnes and we are encouraging growers to maximise their upcoming planting plans.”
Last year the industry had to source about 600,000 tonnes of rice from overseas to supplement the crop, which was the lowest in seven years — down 445,215 tonnes on last year’s production.
“Over the past five years, SunRice has successfully implemented a strategy that has improved the company’s overall performance and profitability, and has built resilience across the business,” SunRice said in its AGM statement.
In May SunRice was planning to delist the business on the National Stock Exchange and instead float on the Australian Securities Exchange, allowing outside investors to buy and sell shares.
However, Australia’s rice monopoly is now unsure about its capital restructure, with one of its joint venture partners deciding to review its partnership with the company, and uncertainty about the potential implementation of Papua New Guinea quotas.
http://www.weeklytimesnow.com.au/agribusiness/cropping/sunrice-predicts-local-rice-crop-to-boom-next-year/news-story/a29009c48376b833ce7fa75d575dc909
Farm output seen to post growth
Posted on August 26, 2016
THE DEPARTMENT of Agriculture (DA) is looking at a “positive” growth for the country’s agriculture in the second half of the year after the contraction seen at end-June, as the office’s head pitched legislative priorities for the sector before the House of Representatives yesterday.
“We’re looking a positive growth for Philippine
agriculture... so far the rice fields are green, our harvest is bumper and
everything is turning outright. We are expecting for a positive growth,”
Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel F. Piñol said at the sidelines of the 2017
budget deliberations.
Value of agricultural output fell 2.34% in the second quarter, the Philippine Statistics Authority reported last week, but this was nearly half the 4.53% contraction recorded in January-March period that bore the brunt of drought, whose impact was felt by farms starting the second quarter last year that itself saw an upwardly revised 0.01% slip.
The second-quarter drop took last semester’s agriculture performance to a 3.48% contraction, against the 0.89% increment logged in 2015’s comparable six months.
Asked what could be the growth drivers, Mr. Piñol said it will still be the grains sector despite the La Niña phenomenon expected to occur later this year. Palay and corn make up about 20% of the country’s farm output.
“La Niña would not come in until after most of our farmers harvested because we were told the La Niña would come in somewhere at the end of September, October and November. By that time, most of the rice farmers in the eastern sea board of the country would have already harvested,” Mr. Piñol said.
The Agriculture chief added that his department has already started preparing for the La Niña as early as two months ago, as it already prepared a map identifying the areas that could be adversely affected by the weather phenomenon.
The map identified low-risk, medium-risk, high-risk and very high-risk areas through the help of Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration and Science and Technology department’s Project NOAH.
“We now have a plan of action on the farm output production program. We will now prioritizing provinces for food production which would not be included in high-risk areas,” Mr. Piñol added.
LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES
Moreover, Mr. Piñol pitched his department’s legislative agenda before the House of Representatives yesterday, topped by the abolition of irrigation fees to cut farmers’ production costs in a bid to achieve food and nutrition security in the country.
“We will seek free irrigation for our farmers to reduce production cost. Vietnamese farmers no longer pay their irrigation fees. Thai rice farmers no longer pay their irrigation fees. In the Philippines, Filipino farmers cannot plant if they do not pay their irrigation fees, they are not provided water,” Mr. Piñol said during the 2017 budget deliberations at the House of Representatives.
“The President believes that this is an injustice being perpetrated to the Filipino rice farmers,” Mr. Piñol added.
As of now, 10 versions of a measure seeking the removal of the irrigation service fees and for the government to fully subsidize these costs have been filed at the House of Representatives.
Other priority measures lobbied by Mr. Piñol were the passage of the Coco Levy Trust Fund Act; National Land Use Policy Act; Urban Agriculture Act; Philippine Native Animal Development Act; and Right to Food Act.
In his presentation, Mr. Piñol said that the Agriculture department is also looking at ways to modernize the agency to address the concerns of the farmers such as maximizing the use of smartphones and a solar-powered irrigation.
Mr. Piñol said that he had a meeting with an application developer so that a farmer can access the DA Web site 24/7 with the use of an Android phone and send concerns and “refer whatever problem he has by simply taking of picture for example a diseased palay, he would just simply take picture of the diseased palay and send it site which our people will be managing and within 24 hours, our technicians will be able to provide answers to his question.”
“A team of experts in solar power is constructing the first prototype of first solar powered irrigation. They are doing this in a farm in desert in Southern California. We have tasked them to look at the ways of providing solar powered irrigation in areas which do not have access to power lines and which are away from the source of water,” Mr. Piñol added.
Under the 2017 proposed budget, the DA is allocated P50.6 billion, 6.34% lower than what was earmarked for this year at P53.9 billion.
Mr. Piñol said that this is due to lower allocation for farm-to-market roads, the exclusion of funds under the bottom-up budgeting scheme, the transfer of PAMANA (PAyapa at MAsaganang PamayaNAn or Peaceful and Resilient Communities) program to Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process; and the decrease of the allocation for its Philippine Rural Development Project. -- Raynan F. Javil
Value of agricultural output fell 2.34% in the second quarter, the Philippine Statistics Authority reported last week, but this was nearly half the 4.53% contraction recorded in January-March period that bore the brunt of drought, whose impact was felt by farms starting the second quarter last year that itself saw an upwardly revised 0.01% slip.
The second-quarter drop took last semester’s agriculture performance to a 3.48% contraction, against the 0.89% increment logged in 2015’s comparable six months.
Asked what could be the growth drivers, Mr. Piñol said it will still be the grains sector despite the La Niña phenomenon expected to occur later this year. Palay and corn make up about 20% of the country’s farm output.
“La Niña would not come in until after most of our farmers harvested because we were told the La Niña would come in somewhere at the end of September, October and November. By that time, most of the rice farmers in the eastern sea board of the country would have already harvested,” Mr. Piñol said.
The Agriculture chief added that his department has already started preparing for the La Niña as early as two months ago, as it already prepared a map identifying the areas that could be adversely affected by the weather phenomenon.
The map identified low-risk, medium-risk, high-risk and very high-risk areas through the help of Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration and Science and Technology department’s Project NOAH.
“We now have a plan of action on the farm output production program. We will now prioritizing provinces for food production which would not be included in high-risk areas,” Mr. Piñol added.
LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES
Moreover, Mr. Piñol pitched his department’s legislative agenda before the House of Representatives yesterday, topped by the abolition of irrigation fees to cut farmers’ production costs in a bid to achieve food and nutrition security in the country.
“We will seek free irrigation for our farmers to reduce production cost. Vietnamese farmers no longer pay their irrigation fees. Thai rice farmers no longer pay their irrigation fees. In the Philippines, Filipino farmers cannot plant if they do not pay their irrigation fees, they are not provided water,” Mr. Piñol said during the 2017 budget deliberations at the House of Representatives.
“The President believes that this is an injustice being perpetrated to the Filipino rice farmers,” Mr. Piñol added.
As of now, 10 versions of a measure seeking the removal of the irrigation service fees and for the government to fully subsidize these costs have been filed at the House of Representatives.
Other priority measures lobbied by Mr. Piñol were the passage of the Coco Levy Trust Fund Act; National Land Use Policy Act; Urban Agriculture Act; Philippine Native Animal Development Act; and Right to Food Act.
In his presentation, Mr. Piñol said that the Agriculture department is also looking at ways to modernize the agency to address the concerns of the farmers such as maximizing the use of smartphones and a solar-powered irrigation.
Mr. Piñol said that he had a meeting with an application developer so that a farmer can access the DA Web site 24/7 with the use of an Android phone and send concerns and “refer whatever problem he has by simply taking of picture for example a diseased palay, he would just simply take picture of the diseased palay and send it site which our people will be managing and within 24 hours, our technicians will be able to provide answers to his question.”
“A team of experts in solar power is constructing the first prototype of first solar powered irrigation. They are doing this in a farm in desert in Southern California. We have tasked them to look at the ways of providing solar powered irrigation in areas which do not have access to power lines and which are away from the source of water,” Mr. Piñol added.
Under the 2017 proposed budget, the DA is allocated P50.6 billion, 6.34% lower than what was earmarked for this year at P53.9 billion.
Mr. Piñol said that this is due to lower allocation for farm-to-market roads, the exclusion of funds under the bottom-up budgeting scheme, the transfer of PAMANA (PAyapa at MAsaganang PamayaNAn or Peaceful and Resilient Communities) program to Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process; and the decrease of the allocation for its Philippine Rural Development Project. -- Raynan F. Javil
http://www.bworldonline.com/content.php?section=Economy&title=farm-output-seen-to-post-growth&id=132508
Rice exports to EU: making the most of zero tariff
By Bui Hong Nhung
August 25, 2016 | 10:27 am GMT+7
Vietnam's rice exports will enjoy a zero percent tariff to the European Union from 2018. The free trade agreement between Vietnam and the E.U. (EVFTA), which comes into effect in 2018, will allow the country to export 100,000 tons of rice each year to the E.U., quadruple the current figure.
Many countries around the world have applied
measures to restrict rice imports and even refused to open their rice markets
during FTA negotiations, but the E.U. has spared some space for Vietnamese
rice.The E.U. has approved an import quota of 100,000 tons of rice per year for
Vietnam with a zero percent tax rate once the agreement takes effect. Broken
rice will be exempt from import duties for seven years with no limit on
quantity.According to analysts, the commitment will help Vietnamese enterprises
save up to €17 million ($20 million) per year.
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Vietnam is the world’s third largest
rice exporter.
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Having joined the global rice market 20 years
ago, Vietnam is now the world’s third
largest rice exporter after India and Thailand. However, Vietnam's market
share has fallen in the face of fierce competition from rice export rivals over
the last few years.While other countries focus their attention on rice quality,
Vietnam still aims for quantity.This is why Vietnam's rice exports to the E.U.
remain modest, said Dang Hoang Hai, head of the European Market Department
under the Ministry of Industry and Trade.
Data from the Vietnam Food Association showed
that the country exported 18,000 tons of rice to the E.U. last year, down 10
percent from 2014 and 25 percent from 2013.In 2013, Vietnam accounted for 3
percent of the E.U. rice market, while Thailand made up about 18 percent,
Cambodia 22 percent and India 24 percent.“Once the EVFTA comes into force,
Vietnam’s rice industry can expect higher import figures,” Hai said.He added
that the E.U. market has strict requirements for rice import, ranging from
quality standards to environmental rules. Europeans also prefer high-quality
products like the ones grown in Cambodia, rather than Vietnamese rice.“Vietnamese
farmers don’t favor rice that takes a long time to grow and produces lower
yields. They’ve been loyal to output targets, so they can’t produce good rice.
Even if the rice is good, it’s impossible to compare it with Cambodian rice,”
said agricultural expert Vo Tong Xuan.
The expert said that Cambodia only entered the
global rice market five years ago, but its rice has won the world’s best rice
award at the annual Rice Trader Conference for three consecutive years.Last
year, a product produced by Vietnam’s Loc Troi Company was also listed in the
top three rice products in the world, pushing the price up to $700 per ton from
$370-380.Dang Hoang Hai, head of the European Market Department, claimed that
to compete with Cambodia as well as other rice suppliers in the E.U. market,
Vietnam should shift its production routines from low-quality rice to high
quality, but that won't be easy.
White rice and pasta are actually not as unhealthy as we thought
Alyse Barker
New research has found that eating carbs, like
white rice or pasta, could actually help you control your weight.While you
might have read that eating lots of carbs will make you pack on the pounds, not
all carbs are created equally.Our bodies absorb refined carbohydrates, such as
white bread or cookies, very quickly and end up storing them for energy, not
burning them. But resistant starches, named because they resist being absorbed,
can actually make you feel full more quickly.
The study, published in the journal Nutrition,
found that, if combined with a protein such as hard-boiled eggs or greek
yogurt, those resistant starches can help you feel and stay full.More examples
of refined starches include bananas, whole grains and beans. So now you can
enjoying carbing out and not feeling guilty!
Silicon
Boosts Rice Yields, According To LEGATO Researchers
Researchers
at the recent LEGATO conference held in the Philippines presented five years’
worth of study findings into rice cultivation in the region. Asian Scientist
Newsroom | August 25, 2016 | In the Lab AsianScientist (Aug. 25, 2016) -
Silicon has the potential to improve rice yields and crop health, according to
research findings presented at the Land-use intensity and Ecological
Engineering Assessment (LEGATO) conference, which took place from August 6-11,
2016 in Banaue, Philippines. The fifth and final conference was a culmination
of a five-year international research effort into Southeast Asian rice
cultivation funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research.
“LEGATO
research has aimed to take into account a complexity of factors that might
influence achieving sustainable rice production in the region, while at the
same time taking into account protecting biodiversity and natural resources,”
explained LEGATO co-ordinator Professor Josef Settele from the Helmholtz Center
for Environmental Research in Germany. At the conference, LEGATO researchers
presented data highlighting the benefits of silicon for the health of rice
crops. They described a study they carried out in Northern Vietnam, which
showed that silicon fertilization led to increased silicon uptake by rice and
improved rice yields.
Other
study results that were discussed ranged from the contribution of pollinators
and soil organisms to biodiversity and nutrient provisioning, to the importance
of the socio-cultural context for sustainable development or ecotourism in the
study regions. Read more from Asian Scientist Magazine at:
http://www.asianscientist.com/2016/08/in-the-lab/legato-conference-rice-cultivation-agriculture-research-philippines/
08/25/2016 Farm Bureau Market Report
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Rice Comment
Rice futures saw renewed weakness today as
commodities were lower across the board. A stronger dollar and weaker crude oil
both added pressure. Nationwide, 13% of the crop is now rated poor to very
poor, up from 8% last week. Another 25% is in fair condition, while 61% remains
in good to excellent condition. In Louisiana, 17% is now in poor to very poor
condition, while at home in Arkansas, 19% is in poor to very poor condition,
29% is in fair condition, and 52% is in good to excellent condition. Excessive
rains have resulted in rice that has lodged and has sprouted in the field. This
will all result in poorer quality rice and less than ideal yields. ovember has
resistance at the recent high of $10.70, but today's move below the $10.30 area
could signal a retest of recent lows around $9.50.
Disaster Assistance Options for
Louisiana Rice Producers
BATON ROUGE, LA -- The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)
county emergency boards are currently working with interested parties such as
Louisiana rice growers, the LSU AgCenter, and the Louisiana Department of
Agriculture and Forestry to assess damages in the field. These reports
will be used as part of the request to USDA for Secretarial Disaster
Designation. Carrie Castille, with Louisiana Rice, explained that "these
assessments are critical in providing much needed information to administer
disaster assistance."
Once USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack formally declares a natural
disaster for the requested parishes, benefits, in addition to crop insurance
and Agriculture Risk Coverage/Price Loss Coverage, will be made
available. Those benefits would include the Farm Service Agency's (FSA)
Emergency Loan Program to provide loans for producers to recover and rebuild
from production and physical losses, and the Disaster Set-Aside Program to provide
those producers with existing FSA loans, who are unable to make scheduled
payments, the ability to defer up to one full year's payment to the end of the
loan.
Castille said, "USA Rice is working with the Louisiana
Congressional delegation to explore options for additional disaster assistance
to aid all residents affected by the storms. We're identifying all
opportunities to provide this much needed assistance and will certainly know
more about the options available to producers once the full scope of the damage
has been assessed."
USDA is encouraging producers to
document all costs associated with the damages, including photo documentation,
and to make physical and digital copies of all records to ensure farms have the
best chances of benefiting from the aid programs available. For immediate
needs, producers are asked to reach out to their insurance agents, other USDA
service centers, and bankers before making major decisions or financial
commitments following the disaster. USA Rice will continue to provide updates
and disaster assistance information as it becomes available.
USA
Rice Daily, Thursday, August 25, 2016 21 hours ago
Road to Senegal's rice self-sufficiency
Senegal
Senegal is determined to end its rice imports. According to the stakeholders in the rice sector, the total domestic production of white rice has been significantly increased.Triggered by high international prices since 2011, several initiatives to upgrade the rice value chain have emerged in the private sector. Rice is a staple food in Senegal. The country’s government is aiming to achieve self-sufficiency by next year.The Senegalese are big consumers of rice, with an average of 90 kg of rice per year per capita. Half of this amount per capita comes from the importation of Thai or Chinese rice.
In the
country, the slogan “Feeding the Senegal by Senegalies” is about to
materialize. Major public investments in the rice sector is done in the Senegal
River Valley (SRV) paddy rice,, to extend production areas
already in existence.
Because of the the exacerbation of biological
and institutional constraints in the valley, rice growers had difficulties in
maintaining productivity of their land. These constraints prevented them from
further intensification- jeopardizing the national objective of
self-sufficiency.A platform was created, bringing together traders, millers and
rice importers. It includes the Senegalese government and the banks to discuss
substantial efforts to extend the initiative.All these actors gathered this
week to take stock of the situation of rice in Senegal and are yet to report of
the outcomes
http://www.africanews.com/2016/08/25/road-to-senegal-s-rice-self-sufficiency/
Scientists in high-yield rice pursuit to feed Africa
Scientists in Uganda are in labs and paddies
searching for high-yield varieties to feed Africa's increasing demands for
rice.
Aug 25, 2016
Scientists, policy makers and rice traders all agree that
rice has a long value chain, which employs many people from farmers, millers to
the traders. They also hail the crop’s crucial role in feeding the food
insecure parts of the continent.
Researchers from Uganda, Nigeria and Ghana are
using genetic modification (GM) to create rice varieties capable of
withstanding depleted soils, drought and give a high yield.In Uganda’s National
Crops Resources Research Institute (NaCRRI), scientists are working on a rice
variety inserted with barley genes to make it more efficient in utilizing
nitrogen. Nitrogen is critical to the proper growth of a crop.“We are
harvesting a trial which started in April this year. The trial is concerned
with understanding new rice varieties that were developed using transgenic
methods under low, moderate and high nitrogen levels,” Jimmy Lamo, a rice
breeder at NaCRRI told Xinhua.
“We transformed variety Nerica 4, which is
about 70 percent of the upland rice grown in the country but frequently gets
yield penalty due to drought and low soil fertility especially nitrogen.”The
trials are being carried out under strict scrutiny by the National Council of
Science and Technology (NCST), a state agency responsible for regulating
genetic modification technology.Uganda is in the process of enacting a
biotechnology law that will regulate the use of GM technology.
Figures from the African Agricultural
Technology Foundation (AATF) show that Africa can only produce up to 50 percent
of the rice it consumes while the rest needs to be imported.“We import over 13
million metric tonnes per year, which comes to 5.6 billion U.S. dollars per
annum. That is a lot foreign exchange that we lose,” Sani Kayode a Project
Manager at AATF told Xinhua in an interview.The lost revenue could be used for
other development in Africa if the continent was producing enough rice, he
said.Kayode said African countries like Nigeria and Ghana that have a
bio-safety law in place could go ahead and start planting the rice so that
farmers can benefit. Enditem
Source:
Xinhua/News GhanaWhat’s common between wine, Scotch and Basmati rice?
- Updated: Aug 25, 2016 14:59 IST
Basmati – the premium rice variety indigenous
to the Indo-Gangetic plains. (KRBL Ltd. )
Ageing is a natural process done by storing freshly harvested basmati rice in well-ventilated jute bags or bamboo containers for a significant amount of time. But how does that affect your rice preparations? Ageing enhances the attributes of basmati rice by reducing the moisture content, increasing the aroma, length and taste, and adding to the aesthetic appeal of the dish by making it non-sticky.
Know your Basmati
As consumers, it is hard to choose from the wide variety of products available in the market, especially with some manufacturers making false claims about the age of their product. The key differentiator that needs to be kept in mind is that it is not sufficient to just look for aged rice, but for rice that has been aged for a minimum of 1.5 to 2 years.
Other than its age, knowing the quality of the rice you consume is essential. There are many reasons why consuming loose rice can have an adverse effect on your health, the most distinct one being quality.
Packaged rice is simply more hygienic and ensures that the rice grains reach you directly from the manufacturing plant, without picking up impurities along the way. On the other hand, loose rice is more susceptible to adulteration and can carry a host of pathogens and bacteria. As packaged rice sells under registered brand names, there is a complete assurance of compliance with the prevalent laws and quality certifications. Another thing to note here is that packaged rice brands are more likely to employ safeguard techniques that ensure a better end product.
Know your brand
Therefore, it is also important to know the brand of rice that you are purchasing in terms of its processes and quality standards. The KRBL Group produces and exports Basmati rice under their flagship brand India Gate Basmati Rice. With the world’s largest milling capacity of 195 MT per hour, over 120 years of experience in the field of rice manufacturing and numerous prestigious awards to their credit, it won’t be wrong to label them as India’s true rice perfectionists.
India Gate Basmati Rice has perfected the art of producing light, fluffy, aromatic and extra long grains. (KRBL Ltd.)
But what makes them the experts when it comes to Basmati rice? Firstly, quality is something that is built into their ethos. India Gate uses only the most premium quality seeds after much R&D to harvest best type of Basmati rice. It also employs state-of-the-art machinery to ensure that this quality is maintained consistently.Thirdly, they have constantly innovated to produce and market more than 15 varieties of rice, both in India and abroad. This makes India Gate the current market leader in rice with a market share of over 30%.
With these strengths as their foundation, KRBL Ltd. has grown to become India’s first integrated rice company with a comprehensive product chain that is known for its quality. Their rich legacy in rice-making expertise, mastery over the most modern milling technologies and the sheer craftsmanship of the product have given them a respectable standing in the global market place. They have used this standing to build a strongly committed, long lasting and mutually beneficial relationship with India’s Basmati farmers. India’s Basmati farmers and KRBL Ltd. have been associated since 1889, a legacy of over 120 years that has morphed into a relationship of trust.
Their relationship with Basmati farmers goes back in time across three generations, helping them tap into the farmers’ experience in traditional skills along with their knowledge of modern-day crop management practices. Their commitment to introducing the latest milling techniques has resulted in higher quality standards and capacity for the industry and satisfaction for consumers. They have also achieved a number of quality certifications over the years, including the ISO 9001:2008, BRC-Food and HACCP & SQF 2000. But most of all, they have won the prestigious APEDA Award for being the largest exporter for 18 consecutive years as a mark of consistency when it comes to premium quality.
Today, other than an impressive market share and a global standing, India Gate Basmati Rice is also the preferred choice of consumers and retailers. Little doubt remains about a reliable choice for your household.
Here are some fun recipes to try with India Gate Basmati rice:
Egg fried rice
Rice pakoras
Rice pudding
Spinach rice
http://www.hindustantimes.com/sponsoredcontent/what-s-common-between-wine-scotch-and-basmati-rice/story-El0thtIhXVBcd8jQ5HYaaI.html
Naogaon Food Department extends rice procurement drive till Sept 15
Our Correspondent
NAOGAON, Aug 25: The deadline for rice
procurement campaign in the district has been extended till September 15.Officials
of District Food Department annou-nced the extension after a meeting recently.District
food controller Mozahar Hossain infor-med the time has been extended following
a direction from the Food Ministry.Earlier, the Food Department had set August
31 as the deadline for procuring 20,932 tonnes of rice from eleven upazilas of
Naogaon, but a good number of mill owners in the district demanded an
extension.Md. Rafiqul Islam, president of District Rice Mill Owners'
Association, expressed satisfaction over the extension of deadline for rice
procurement."Through the initiative, millers would be able to sell
additional 14,041 tonnes of rice to government after husking the Aus paddy as
well as Aman," he added.
http://www.thefinancialexpress-bd.com/2016/08/25/43379/Naogaon-Food-Department-extends-rice-procurement-drive-till-Sept-15
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